Culture Trip: Is This Australia’s Best Art-Inspired Weekend Away?

We’ve partnered with The Tweed Tourism Company to show you what a perfect art-inspired weekend in The Tweed looks like.

It’s not every day you stumble upon a destination that balances incredible natural beauty with culinary excellence and a thriving cultural scene. The Tweed, on the northern coast of NSW, has long been a haven for nature lovers and laid-back travellers, but look a little deeper and you’ll discover this is a thriving creative region where artistic expression flourishes alongside sweeping landscapes, design-led accommodation and hatted restaurants. While it may be best known for its postcard-perfect beaches (and rightly so), what lies beneath is a deeply creative community that makes The Tweed one of the country’s most unexpected and inspiring creative escapes.

From the renowned Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre to the abundance of local artisan workshops at the M | Arts Precinct, this is a region where creativity flows as freely as the breeze. We’ve curated the perfect art-inspired itinerary for your next escape to feed your creative and culinary appetite away from the hustle and bustle. The best bit? It’s all just a 30-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport…

Day One: Set The Scene

After an early arrival at Gold Coast Airport, pick up a hire car to make the most of this expansive region with a scenic drive into The Tweed’s lush hinterland. First stop? The iconic Tweed Regional Gallery. Begin your journey through the architecturally designed space, wander through the seven light-filled exhibition spaces, complete with a thoughtfully curated mix of regional, national and international artists, from historical landscapes to contemporary installations.

A highlight of the gallery is its most recent acquisition, artist Ben Quilty’s 2011 Archibald Prize-winning portrait of Margaret Olley. The striking piece is currently on display until 31st August 2025 as part of the Painting Life: Margaret Olley and Works from the Collection. The limited-time exhibition also offers a rare opportunity to view 11 still life paintings by Quilty depicting florals from Margaret Olley’s garden. Never before on public display, these colour-rich pieces are an homage to Quilty’s friend and mentor.

For an even more in depth foray into the life and works of Margaret Olley, don’t miss The Margaret Olley Art Centre (MOAC), which includes a re-creation of the celebrated Australian artist’s famed home studio, combined with paintings, objects, and an immersive multi-media display that details her career, life and legacy. The gallery itself boasts sweeping views out to Wollumbin Mount Warning, so be sure to pop back into Apex Dining for a bite to eat and to soak in the spectacular views. Here, the finest local produce is reimagined in a menu that spans Asian fusion small plates to flaky pastries and indulgent desserts.

Continue your afternoon with a relaxed tipple at Earth Beer Company, a local brewery that brings a creative edge to its brews with innovative flavour profiles and carefully designed cans. It is a refreshing addition to the region’s innovative food and drink scene.

Keeping on theme, it’s time to check into Halycon House after a busy day of creative exploration. One of Australia’s most stylish coastal stays, the rooms here are impeccably appointed with design-led interiors reminiscent of coastal Italy. Take a pre-dinner wander up to Norries Headland for sunset before sitting down to an elevated dinner at the hatted onsite restaurant, Paper Daisy.

Day Two: A Sensory Exploration

Ease into your morning and make like the locals with a refreshing dip down at Cabarita Beach, before you switch gears into a day of cultural exploration and hands-on experiences. Today is all about immersing yourself in everything The Tweed has to offer.

Get straight into it with a tour and tasting at Husk Distillers — a truly sensory experience. Home to Australia’s first paddock-to-bottle agricole rum, sip your way through the offering of small-batch rums made from sugarcane grown, harvested, aged and bottled onsite.

From here it’s off to the vibrant M|Arts Precinct in Murwillumbah, where you’ll be able to take in an array of local artists at work in their renovated shipping container studios and heritage buildings. Here you’ll be able to pick up plenty of handmade momentos, art supplies of your own and even book into a creative workshop to try your hand at pottery, painting, or printmaking.

After a busy morning, round out the afternoon with a stop at Kat Harvey Cheese, home to a curated collection of over 50 cheeses. Don’t pass on one of Kat’s cult toasties — and a few wedges for the road? Absolutely essential.

Make your way to Tweed River House for an early dinner on the balcony of this grand old homestead on the banks of the Tweed River. The historic house turned fine-diner is a draw card in its own right, but with a seasonal menu that champions local produce and elevates it with elegant French-inspired flair, it is the kind of place where a glass of wine and a slow afternoon are not only encouraged, but recommended. Reflect on a day well-spent as dusk descends on the sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

Day Three: The Inspiration Behind The Art

After two days of wining and dining, it’s time to get moving and discover the region’s show-stopping natural beauty that provides endless inspiration to local artists. Hire an e-bike and cycle the Northern Rivers Rail Trail — that takes you past rolling farmland, tunnels, historic bridges and character-filled villages. The 26 bridges and two tunnels ensure a dynamic journey that is best explored on two wheels.

The 24km journey is one of NSW’s most scenic rides, and you’ll find plenty of stops worth lingering at along the way. For an eclectic treasure trove of antiques, stop in at Heath’s Old Wares, boutique natural wine at Burringbar Natural Wine, and fuel up on small-batch espresso at Pour Good.

Too tired to ride back? Or need to get that antique vase back safely from Heath’s? No worries. You can also hitch a ride on a shuttle back to the start if you haven’t quite got a return journey in you. A late lunch and a well-deserved post-bike brew at local favourite Ventura Brewing are the only things left on the agenda. Not your typical brewery, these guys are serving up sub-tropical refreshments, from their award-winning hard kombucha to native iced teas and craft beer. Kick back with a brew and reflect on a long weekend well spent.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, indulgence or simply a change of pace, The Tweed offers more than meets the eye. With its unique blend of coastal calm, culinary excellence and a creative scene worth travelling for, this region stands as one of Australia’s most underrated cultural escapes. So next time you’re planning a long weekend away, make it artful.

Ready to immerse yourself in everything The Tweed has to offer? Head over here for even more inspiration.

Writer

Olivia Storrie

1 July 2025

Armed with an Arts Degree in History and Psychology from the University of Sydney, a natural curiosity and a ravenous appetite, Sitchu’s Sydney Editor Olivia is your go-to for restaurant recommendations across the city. She also has a keen interest in hiking, patting other people’s dogs, travelling, curating her maximalist home and reading every book she can get her hands on.